romney tried to tamp down expectations in the back. >> people want to know who is going to win? who is going to score the punches and who is going to make the biggest difference in the arguments they make? in my view, it's not so much winning or losing or even the people themselves. it's about something bigger than that. these debates are an opportunity for each of us to describe the pathway forward for america that we would choose. >> playing off the enthusiastic crowd. romney had lines for the base. may even tested out a few zingers we might hear wednesday night. >> this is a home to focus on the family which is committed to preserving the foundation of america. we have to get the pipe laine from canada if i have to build it myself. >> it will kill america's entrepreneurship. >> that's the first time, by the way, romney talked about card check on the stump since the primaries. others call it the employee free choice act. it was a priority four years ago. it never passed because a few democrats helped kill it. it's faded from the debate since 2009. that's why it was odd to hear